Mendis deserved man - of - the match award:

Double Ms spin, shell andshock India

...to a crushing defeat

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

Spin shelled and shocked. That’s how best this disgraceful act of batting that led to an innings and 239 run loss for the Indians could be described.

When this First Test between Sri Lanka and India began, the consensus was that the game would be evenly contested and the side playing the better cricket would win.

But as the game and the action unfolded, it was apparent that after the Lankans posted a massive 600 for 6 with Malinda Warnapura, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera and Tillekeratne Dilshan scoring centuries that the Indians would be wriggling and struggling.

And that is how it ended with the spin twins Muttiah Muralitheran and Ajantha Mendis skinning, roasting and devouring the Indians live. For the Indians who taught the world to win matches with spin, this batting display was an utter disgrace. No one expected the Indians to capitulate in this poor fashion.

In name they had some of the best batsmen going in the game. But the meek manner in which they surrendered was a shame and brought their game down to the depths.

The Indians were outplayed in every aspect of the game. They did not look a side fit to play at this level of the game.

They gifted the game with more than a day to spare. When the Indians began their reply for survival, after Nuwan Kulesekera thought out Shewag, skipper Jayawardena brought on his spinner who, was making his debut, the mercurial Ajantha Mendis in the 11th over with the shine on the ball still on and did he not repay the confidence and stuff the Indians with his juggling spinc.

Mendis looked as though he was a veteran in the game. He did not show the jitters or the stiff fingers, as he ran in and delivered like a true champion. In the second innings he came on in the 6th over.

While he had the Indian batsmen trying to figure his many faces of spin, the maestro Muralitheran grabbed the opportunity to show his magic and get his 21st ten wicket haul.

Jayawardena captained the side with sheer brilliance like he usually does. He gave his spinners attacking fields throughout and the visitors could not cope with that pressure.

At times the spinners had a slip, gully, silly mid off and silly mid on and also a leg slip. True with 600 on the board he could afford to do it. But even otherwise Jayawardena is a thinking and attacking captain and that is how he will always remain.

How the Indian batsmen would go in the remaining Two Test’s and counter the wiles of Muralitheran and Mendis God only knows. Watching the hand or the delivery is not going to help or solve their problems.

The clever way to play spin and top class spin at that is to use your feet.

The Indian batsmen looked feetless wonders as they stayed manacled to the crease and refused to attack the spin. Had the Indian top order done that, such a disgraceful defeat would not have been slapped on them.

On wickets that begin to deteriorate, spinners would always be match winners. And in Muralitheran and new wonder Mendis, the Lankans are blessed with two tweakers who all opposing batsmen would be struggling to come to terms with.

Now that the Lankans have the Indians by the jagular, it would not be easy for the Indians to wriggle out of that grip and come good. But it is said that cricket is a funny game. However it would certainly require a cricketing miracle for the visitors to show their resolve, resilence, come good and pocket the series in the next two Tests.

Man of the match award

No one would have faulted the Test adjudicator had he awarded the man-of-the match award to spinning sensation Ajantha Mendis.

Muralitheran had won this award several times before. Mendis was making his debut. His figures for a debutant were sensational. I can’t remember any other debutant, in Sri Lanka or any other Test playing country making such a telling debut that also earned his side a massive victory, considering that in name in Indians had one, if not the best batting line up in Test cricket today.

The award went to Muralitheran for the 19th time.